Service tray



April 19, 1938. R. ZI'IEGLER SERVICE TRAY Filed Oct. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorneys April 19, 1938. R. ZIEGLER 2,114,460

- SER VI CE TRAY Filed Oct. 23, 1936 I 2 Sheetjs Sheet 2 A itomeys Patented Apr. 19, 1938 SERVICE TRAY Ray Ziegler, Miami Beach, Fla... assignor of fifty percent to Maurice H. Biederman, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application October 23, 1936, SerialNo. 107,282

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in trays particularly of the type usually mounted on automobiles when serving the occupants thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a service tray of the aforementioned character embodying novel advertising means together with means for automatically illuminating said advertising means when the tray is mounted in position on the automoble.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a service tray of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specifica- 20 tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a service tray constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fgure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the tray, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View in vertical cross section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 35 of 2.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view in cross section 40 through the automatic switch.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View in elevation of one end portion of the slidable brace, showing the bar on which it is mounted in cross section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tray which is designated generally by the reference numeral I, said tray including a bottom 2 from which walls 3 rise. The tray I may be of any suitable dimensions and material. The bottom 2 of the tray I has formed therein a plurality of circular openings 4 (see Figure 1) for the reception of glasses, bottles, and other containers. Supporting bars 5 are mounted on the bottom 2 of the tray I and spaced beneath the openings 4, upon which supporting bars the containers which are inserted in said openings 4 are adapted to rest.

Depending from one side portion of the tray I is a pair of posts 6 which are engageable with the inner side of the door of an automobile when the tray is mounted in the window thereof.

will be observed that certain of the supporting bars 5 are secured at one end to the posts 6 for rigidity. Mounted for sliding adjustment on one of the, supporting bars 5 is a brace I which coacts with the posts 6 for supporting the tray in drawings.

The bottom 2 of the tray I is further provided with a window or opening 8 for the reception of a transparent advertising plate 9 which is preferably of glass.

The advertising plate 9 is removable and said advertising plate is slidably mounted in guides I0 tray I.

(see Figure 4) beneath the Also slidably mounted in the guides Iil beneath the tray I is a casing II of suitable material in which an incandescent lamp I2 is mounted. The lamp I2 is electrically connected with a battery I3 in the casing II.

A thumb switch I4 is provided on one end of the removable casing II for manually controlling the circuit to the lamp I2.

The lamp I2 is adapted to be automatically energized through the medium of a switch which is designated generally by the reference numeral I5. As illustrated to advantage in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings, the switch I5 comprises a bell crank lever I'6 which is mounted by a spring hinge H on one of the posts 6. On one end, the bell crank lever I6 is provided with an angular extension I8 (see Figure 6) having a contact l9 mounted thereon which is engageable with a con tact 20 on the adjacent bar 5. A flexible conductor 2| detachably connects the contact I9 with one of the poles of the battery I3.

It is believed that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a considera tion of the foregoing.

The switch I5 is normally gages the inner side of the door and said bell crank lever is actuated in a manner to close the contacts I9 and 20 thereby energizing the incandescent lamp IZ.

Of course, the lamp I2 illuminates the advertising plate 9. In addition to attractively displaying the advertising matter, the lamp l2 may illuminate the contents of the tray. When the tray is removed from the automobile door or other support the switch l5 opens and the lamp I2 is deenergized. The casing H may be expeditiously removed from the tray I when desired by simply disconnecting said casing from the switch 15. The advertising matter may be placed directly on the plate 9 or on a suitable transparent or translucent sheet mounted beneath said plate 9. The brace 1 is, of course, adjustable to meet various conditions. Suitable struts or braces 22 are provided for the container supporting bars'5.

It is believed that the many advantages of a service tray constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A service tray for attachment to an automobile door to extend out of the window thereof and comprising a transparent bottom portion for illumination to display the contents of the tray, an electric lamp secured to the tray below said portion and electrically connected to a source of energy, means to mount said tray on said door at will, and a control switch secured to the tray for engagement with the door and operative by said engagement to closing position.

2. A service tray for attachment to an automobile door to extend out of the window thereof and having a transparent panel in the bottom thereof for illumination to display the contents of the tray, an electric lamp secured to the tray below said panel, a battery secured to said tray and electrically connected to said lamp, means to mount said tray on said door at will, and a control switch secured to the tray for engagement with the door and operative by such engagement to closing position.

3. A service tray for attachment to an automobile door to extend out of the window thereof and comprising a transparent panel in the bottom thereof for illumination to display the contents of the tray, an electric lamp secured to the tray below said panel and electrically connected to a source of energy, means to mount said tray on said doorat will comprising a leg fixed to said tray for location on one side of the door, a second leg slidably mounted on the tray for engagement with the other side of the door, and a control switch secured to the tray for engagement with the door and operative by such engagement to closing position.

4. A service tray for attachment to an automobile door to extend out of the window thereof and comprising a transparent bottom portion for illumination to display the contents of the tray, an electric lamp secured to the tray below said portion and electrically connected to a source of energy, means to mount said tray on the door at will, and a control switch secured to the tray and comprising a lever pivoted to the tray for movement to closing position by engagement with the door.

RAY ZIEGLER. 

